The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-14
: February 18th
MONDAY (:
SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

There were various rumOr5 III Circula-
ton on Saturday last regarding Samoan
affairs, one of which was to the effect
that His Excellency Mr.. Bush, Hawa-
ian Envoy, had offered a protectorate to
King MalieatOa on behalf of his Govern
ment, and that the Samoan ruler had re-
jected the overture with the remark that
if protectorate were needed he would
go to one of the strong powers, like Eng
land or the United States. Another re-
port was to the effect that the Hawaiian
Embassy had been rudelv treated BY
some German residents at Apia. There
appears to have been measure of truth
in the latter statement, but we have not
been able to ascertain the full particulars.
Suffice it, however, that these occur
rences had no official bearing. 1t is not
probable that Minister Bush would
make any proposal for Hawaiian pro-
tectorate over Samoa, as this, we have
been informed, would be outside his in
structions and from inquiries we learn
that no mention has been made of such
an offer or suggestion in the official cor
respondence received from Samoa by the
Zealandia.
Minister Bush writes to say that the
Embassy was very friendly received, and
that King Malieatoa had expressed his
very great satisfaction in seeing Il repre-
sentative OF King Kalakaua among
chem, as he regarded the King of Ua
&c ali as the leading representative of his
m ace in Polynesia. The Minister
;rther says that the people OF Samoa
Iii = pear to be laboring under great many
ST. evances, originating in Consular in
~ ference, similar to that which pre-
her led in Hawaii before its independence
5 recognized by the Powers. From
ormation furnished it would appear
It if the Samoan Islanders were left
ne by the men who are stirring up
uble and making mischief among the
PES for the sake of profit, the country
uld soon settle down into a quiet, in
pendent, well-doing nation. 1t is said
mat If ever a nation were justified in
v shing to be let alone it is Samoa.
The Legation had established itself in
nfortable quarters, and had been for
tunate in buying suitable furniture
They had been entertaining King Ma
lietoa and his chiefs, and also the for
eign representatives with whom they
are on good terms. A letter has been
received for His Majesty from King Ma
lieatoa.
1t is also said that leading German
had imported 900 stand OF Snider rifles
from. Australia, and was making trouble
between Malieatoa and the Vice-King,
Tamasse. The German officials have
uniformly leaned to the side of the Vice
King. Whether this statement regard
ing the importation of rifles is exagger-
ated or not 1t is impossible to say, and
We give the rumor simply for what it is
worth If it be true, civil war viii break
out again at Samoa unless a strong
Power intervenes. We can hardly sup
pase, however, that such thing has
been done in view of the recent agree
ment between Germany and England
regarding their respective spheres Of in
that the United States, England and
Germany sent Commissions to report
upon the condition of Samoa with refer
ence to the establishment OF an orderly
and well regulated Government. 1t
would be a violation OF the agreement
and understanding between the Powers
to introduce fire arms among the Sa-
moan people.
The New Zealand Herald" contains
the following paragraphs, which will in
terest our readers. 1t says: ''The Sa-
moan Government has just had printed
in the Government Printing Office in
Wellington series of postage stamps,
ranging from Id to Is cd. They are very
neatly executed. The design is cocoa
nut tree, the cocoanut being the chief
support of the Samoan group" The
same paper says that arrangements are
being made to supply Malieatoa with a
Samoan coinage, to supercede the non
descript coins now in circulation.